MINI releases limited Monte-Carlo edition

To celebrate the return of MINI cars to the World Rally Championship, the Oxford-based carmaker releases a a limited edition of the hatchback dubbed the …

To celebrate the return of MINI cars to the World Rally Championship, the Oxford-based carmaker releases a a limited edition of the hatchback dubbed the MINI Monte-Carlo.

The MINI Monte-Carlo is based on the MINI Cooper S and carries design elements from the orginal Mini Cooper that won the Monte Carlo rally three times during the 1960s.

The exterior sports a red paint with white racing stripes. Four additional lights are mounted on the grille and the bumper incorporates two fog lights.

Inside, the the MINI Monte-Carlo Edition sports two-tone red and black steering wheel, along with the Monte-Carlo Edition badge embedded into the seats. A Monte-Carlo edition key chain is included in the package as well.

Under the hood, the special MINI uses the 184 horsepower four-cylinder engine borrowed from the MINI Cooper S. The engine is mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission. An automatic transmission is optional.

The Monte-Carlo can also be ordered with the John Cooper Works package, including a 200 horsepower engine, sportier brakes, and an aerodynamic body kit.

MINI will build 200 units of the Monte-Carlo and will be available only in Europe. Each one wears its number on the front fenders and on the steering wheel. As a special finishing touch, MINI got Rauno Aaltonen, the Finnish pilot that drove the Mini Coopers to victory in the 1960s, to sign each edition.

The MINI Monte-Carlo is currently available for order and carries a base price of 36,500€, or $49,600.